Wesleyan Christian Mustangs OK 2023 Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July and into August, we are publishing well over 100 in-depth team previews to get you completely ready for the 2023 football season. This is something that began in 2021 and has continued to get bigger every single year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state. From defending champions, to top contenders and plenty of dark horses, we'll have complete coverage every single day with new teams from Class 6A, all the way down to the addition of 8-man coverage this year with Class B and C. In this post, we take a look at the Wesleyan Christian Mustangs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Wesleyan Christian Mustangs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: #3</strong><br><strong>Preseason Coaches Ranking: T5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Up in Bartlesville, the Wesleyan Christian Mustangs are building something special and could be primed for a deep run this season. After an 8-4 season in 2021, the Mustangs built on that with their first ever 10-win season in 2022 and would make it to the quarterfinals. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, in both playoff appearances in the last two seasons, they would run into Mt. View-Gotebo in the quarterfinal round and their season would end right there. But the 2022 season was definitely one for the record books as the Mustangs had one of the better offensive units in Class C. This was an offense that scored at least 50 points in every single game during the regular season. The only time they didn't was when their week eight game against South Coffeyville was forfeited. That was the only thing that could slow down this Mustang offense. But the defense also gave up points at times too. In the season opener, they gave up nearly 80 to Webbers Falls and then in week three, they won an exciting shootout over Barnsdall 53-52. But as we look ahead to the 2023 football season, there are quite a few reasons to be excited about the potential of this year's team as they look to take the next step to becoming a consistent contender in Class C.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 season could end up being a special one for Wesleyan Christian as they return all eight starters on both sides of the ball. This was a team that was dominant during the regular season, specifically on the offensive side of the ball and all eight starters are coming back to tear up Class C for another season. And the defense should also be greatly improved as all eight starters come back on that side of the ball. We don't have the numbers for every single school in Class C but we have to think that Wesleyan Christian might be the most experienced team in the Class when you consider they didn't lose a single starter from last year's team. The Mustangs were a top five team in our rankings as well as the coaches rankings this preseason and it will be interesting to see if they can finally get over that quarterfinal hump. They are going to be the favorites to win their district this season but they won't be settling for a district championship. They want a deep run into November and they want to contend with some of the heavy hitters and perennial powers in Class C. They certainly have the talent and more importantly, they have the experience to make something pretty special happen this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (10-2 Record - Lost In Class C Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 2 - Lost To Webbers Falls 78-55<br>Sept. 9 - Beat Claremore Christian 54-8<br>Sept. 16 - Beat Barnsdall 53-52<br>Sept. 23 - Beat Oaks Mission 54-6<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Copan 61-12<br>Oct. 7 - Beat Bluejacket 51-6<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Wilson 69-20<br>Oct. 21 - Beat South Coffeyville 2-0 (Forfeit)<br>Oct. 28 - Beat Watts 62-6<br>Nov. 3 - Beat Coyle 72-22<br>1st Round - Beat Graham-Dustin 51-28<br>Quarterfinals - Lost To Mt. View-Gotebo 34-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["903472"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The go-to playmaker in the Wesleyan Christian offense last season was 2024 standout [player_tooltip player_id='903472' first='Kael' last='Siemers'] at the wide receiver position. Siemers would finish his junior season as the leading receiver. He had over 1,250 yards and 23 touchdowns. He could not stay out of the end zone as he also had six rushing touchdowns on just 18 carries. That's not a bad ratio for a wide receiver as every third carry he got, he was in the end zone. He also took a few kicks back for scores and returned an interception for a touchdown. Siemers was a scoring machine and he also served as the team's kicker when they needed to kick. We're looking forward to seeing how often Siemers can get in the end zone this season. Nobody has been able to contain him yet.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["903471"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"One of the very best quarterbacks in Class C this season is going to be Wesleyan Christian's 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='903471' first='Tyrel' last='Cloud'] as he's going into his fourth season as starter for the Mustangs. Last year, he threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 45 touchdowns. He also added nearly 600 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Cloud was an absolute game changer on both sides of the ball. In addition to leading Wesleyan Christian's high-powered offense, Cloud also started at linebacker for the Mustangs and would lead the team in tackles with nearly 60 on the season. We mentioned a few times how explosive this Wesleyan Christian offense was last season and Cloud was the engine that made it go. With all of his weapons back, we anticipate even bigger numbers from Cloud this fall.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64aee7c5944ae"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Archer Swisher - 2026 Running Back/Linebacker<br>Brock Timmons - 2024 Linebacker<br>Zander Week - 2025 Offensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023 Schedule/Games To Circle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sept. 1 - Webbers Falls</strong><br>- It's the season opener so that's a big reason to circle it on the calendar but the Mustangs also want to get a little revenge. They've opened the season against Webbers Falls the last three years and each year, they've started the season 0-1. Last season, they put up 55 points against Webbers Falls but they still lost in a classic 8-man shootout, losing 78-55. The Mustangs are going to want to come out of the gates hot and a good way of doing that will be to knock off the team that has beaten them in each of the last three seasons. They can take a lot of momentum from a win here. <br>Sept. 8 - AT Claremore Christian<br>Sept. 15 - AT Barnsdall<br>Sept. 22 - AT Oaks Mission<br>Sept. 29 - Copan<br>Oct. 6 - Bluejacket<br><strong>Oct. 12 - AT Wilson</strong><br>- Looking at Wesleyan Christian's district on paper, it looks like the Mustangs are heavy favorites to capture another district championship. But like we always say, this game isn't played on paper and there are going to be plenty of things that happen between now and November that cause havoc on the district race. But their week seven game at Wilson might be a game between the top two teams in the district. The Mustangs put up nearly 70 points on them last season and will look to roll again this year. Even if it doesn't decide the district crown, it'll be an important game. <br>Oct. 20 - South Coffeyville<br>Oct. 27 - AT Watts<br>Nov. 3 - Coyle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since officially joining the OSSAA in 2008, Wesleyan Christian has had just four winning seasons but two of them have come in the last two years. They went 8-4 in 2021 and then would win ten games for the first time in program history last season. As we mentioned earlier, both of those playoff appearances would end in the quarterfinal round with a loss to Mt. View-Gotebo. But the Mustangs are definitely building something and things are going in a very positive direction. With 8 wins in 2021 and then 10 wins last season, the Mustangs are ready to take that next step this fall. They've never made it to the semifinal round in four trips to the playoffs and like they made history last year with ten wins, they're looking for more history this season. And with all eight starters back on both sides of the ball, the Mustangs aren't going to settle for just a semifinal appearance, they want to contend for the state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>0 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->